(Baonghean.vn) - Not only is he a skilled musician and singer, artisan Truong Song Huong, a son of Dua village, Son Tien hamlet, Tho Hop commune (Quy Hop district), can also create musical instruments, most notably the horn - a unique instrument considered the "soul" of the Tho ethnic group's music.
The clip shows artist Truong Song Huong performing a traditional Tho ethnic horn melody.
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In the traditional musical instruments of the Tho people, the horn is considered the "soul," its sound becoming an indispensable part of community life. From the horn used to celebrate a baby's first birthday, to call friends, to the horn used to celebrate a new house, village festivals, and to bid farewell to the deceased... According to artisan Truong Song Huong, the horn is only 25 cm long and consists of three main, detachable parts: the mouthpiece, the body, and the bell. However, its manufacture is by no means simple. |
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| The most important detail of the entire horn is the reed. It looks simple, but if it's not made correctly, even the most beautiful horn, no matter how strong the player's breath, will not produce a sound. Previously, people made the reeds from cardamom leaves; now they are made from thin pieces of plastic, but this requires many steps, from cutting to filing, etc., to achieve the delicate, airy sound. |
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| The middle section is the body of the horn, made of hollowed-out wood with a diameter of about 3cm at its widest point. The body of the horn must have seven holes for vibrato, and the spacing between the holes must adhere to secret family techniques; only then will the horn produce the correct pitch. |
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| The final part is a horn-shaped object, made of wood and approximately 10 cm in diameter. |
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| "You need to know how to play the trumpet to make a good trumpet, because throughout the entire process of hollowing out the inner chamber, drilling holes in the body, and crafting the reeds... you have to listen to the sound and adjust it little by little," Mr. Huong explained. |
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| To make a traditional Thổ flute, even skilled craftsmen need several days to complete it, as all stages are done manually. Artisan Truong Song Huong laments: "In reality, the number of people who know how to make Thổ flutes can be counted on the fingers of one hand, so passing this knowledge on to the younger generation is our responsibility. However, today's youth are not very enthusiastic. Partly because the process of shaping the flute and carving the body requires meticulous skill, and partly because of the worries about making a living, as the time from learning to make a flute to creating one takes months, sometimes even a year..." |
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| Not to mention, making a Turkish trumpet requires not only patience and meticulousness, but above all, a love for Turkish culture and music. |
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| According to artisan Truong Song Huong, after decades of pursuing his passion, he doesn't remember how many types of musical instruments he has made, with trumpets being the most numerous. However, his goal is not to sell them for a high price, but above all to spread knowledge and appreciation to those who know how to play and appreciate them, thereby contributing to preserving the unique characteristics of a particular musical instrument, and the culture of a nation in general. |
Quang An
Technical: Duong Tuan
